Mike Lange was a sports broadcaster best known for his 46-year career with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Died: February 19, 2025 (Who else died on February 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Pittsburgh at the age of 76.
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Mike Lange’s legacy
Lange did not grow up a hockey fan. In fact, he didn’t see his first game until he was a student at Sacramento State University. Attending that game in 1969 changed his life, however, leading to a job doing PA announcements for local hockey clubs, and then as play-by-play commentator for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1974.
What followed was one of the longest broadcasting tenures in hockey history, including a stretch from 1976 to 2006 during which Lange never missed a game. His array of catchphrases made him a fan favorite, with some of them reaching far beyond Penguins fandom. Most famous among them was “Elvis has just left the building,” said after Pittsburgh victories. Lange didn’t originate the phrase – it was first used by music promoter Horace Logan (1916–2002) in 1956 – but he helped push it into more popular usage.
Lange called five different Stanley Cup wings by the Penguins, in 1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, and 2017. He retired in 2021 after 46 years with the team. He was honored with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2001, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Notable quote
“Elvis has just left the building.” — Common Lange catchphrase used after Penguins wins
Tributes to Mike Lange
Full obituary: Trib Live
